Compare towns
Wellfleet vs Dedham vs Nahant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Wellfleet | Dedham | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,404 |
25,237Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±4.1 46% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
| Nahant and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.3%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Nahant and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,938±$27k 13% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
| Dedham and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
| Dedham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,862Lowest 19% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,615 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.7%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wellfleet and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wellfleet | Dedham | Nahant |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.